After applying every year since they started doing the SOA hunts I finally got drawn for one at Fred T. Stimpson in unit 4 on Oct 20. Turns out that I have to work on the scouting days and won't be able to scout before my hunt. Has anyone here hunted that area? I've looked at it on onx and I didn't really see a lot of interesting features. I was hoping someone here could give me a little insight on this unit.

I did 7 the other year.
Find you an oak tree in the creek bottom near a pinch point. They’ll be there

Haven’t hunted 4 but I’ve hunted 3 and a few others. That early in the season, I agree with Broadhead, focus on the creek bottoms. That place is slam full of deer. I’ve hunted up there 3 or 4 times and never made it to a scouting day. Later season seems to be better but I’d imagine the early bow hunt should be good too. I’ve only ever got picked for the youth hunts. If any of those fields are planted and by chance they get some rain between now and then don’t be afraid to sit one of them. Especially if they have some big oaks in and around them. We had 15 or so deer in a field one afternoon up there. In my experience they seem a lot more comfortable up there than in most places.

Tons of deer. As above...Hunt a field forsure if there is any green on it. I saw 31 from noon till dark on the field with a few bucks.

Did anyone here go to the scouting days? And if so, do they have the patches planted?

I went and scouted 12, but I don't think there are any in that zone anyway unfortunately.

Doubt they’ve planted anything with the lack of rain. If they did it was probably a waste. In my experience the fields have been pretty bare during early season hunts but by the time the late season rolls around the fields are nice. When is your hunt?

October 20-23. I've been looking at my unit on onx and there doesn't look like it has any oak trees. It appears to be big hills with plantation pines. If the fields aren't planted and there's no acorns, it's going to be next to impossible to find and kill a buck in just 3 days.

It’ll be easier than you think. Trails and road crossings are your friend on Stimpson

Coosa is right. I have gotten skunked twice up there but I’ve also been very successful there twice. Went in blind all 4 times. Weather is the biggest factor up there I think. As long as you have decent weather I think you’ll be fine. Almost all units have creeks running thru them. I’d focus on those and walk the roads and find crossings. If I was going into unit 4 blind I’d probably just scout my way in along that creek and setup on a good opening with good sign.